- One thing that some cyclists do are longer bike rides. These might be multi day trips or one really long ride of a hundred miles or more. ( Ms. Ava Connor)
100 miles or more? HA HA LOL . Like that’s going to happen….
Pedal2Paris Sponsors & Supporters – A Big Thank you!
Pedal2Paris Sponsors & Supporters – A Big Thank you!
Oh wow! Justgiving.com have just sent me this email:
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I am so grateful to everyone who sponsored my Pedal to Paris fundraising efforts.
You helped me raise £6000 for The Royal British Legion in memory of WLS. Hurrah!
Thank you so much!
Kind Graham from The Royal British Legion also emailed me just before Christmas:
Dear Liberty,
We wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the whole team at The Royal British Legion.
We’ve had an incredible year with bike rides raising just under £600,000 to support the charity’s essential welfare work helping Service men and women, veterans, and their families. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support in raising this record amount.
Have a wonderful festive season,
Best wishes,
How your sponsorship money is distributed by The Royal British Legion:
Yours wondering if The British Legion will send some families on a good holiday in 2015 or maybe buy some mobility vehicles !
Pedal2Paris was AWESOME!
Those of you who have been loyally following ‘The Awesome Hen’ will know that at the end of last year I had a sudden rush of blood to the head & signed up for the Royal British Legion’s Pedal to Paris 2014 Bike Ride. It was an attempt to do something personally to honour the memories of the Bede Boys -WLS, Tutty and Bob H and to commemorate the Centenary of WW1 by trying to raise money to help today’s gallant service men and women and their families.
Nearly 300 cyclists gathered at Greenwich
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysrMJjG_ANk
to start the ride and we all finished at the Arc de Triomphe 4 days later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT_0TktHNIU
It was one of the very best experiences of my life; I loved every minute! Without your fantastic support, I could not have done it and I thank all of you very much indeed.
By looking on the web-site of the Royal British Legion, you can see how the charity uses money raised in donations to improve the lives of servicemen and their families. By looking at my blog (Category: ycling from London to Paris) you can read about my efforts to learn to ride a bike properly and (LOL) turn myself into a long distance cyclist.
Yours encouraging anyone who’s thinking about doing something similar to go ahead and do it – it was fabulous!
PEDAL2PARIS 2014
WITH THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
WAS
AWESOME!!!!
The Route!
View Pedal to Paris in a larger map
THE
CAUSE
WAS
AWESOME!!!
Wreaths were laid to commemorate those who died:
and funds raised to support for those who survive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ajzy9fjfLtU
(youtube video source: The Royal British Legion)
THE GENEROSITY OF MY
KIND SPONSORS
WAS
AWESOME!!!
THE
ROYAL
BRITISH
LEGION’S
LEGENDARY ORGANISATION AND SUPPORT TEAMS
WERE
AWESOME!!!
(photo credit: Dave Hayward)
MY
FELLOW CYCLISTS
WERE
AWESOME!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysrMJjG_ANk
(Youtube video source: British Forces News)
THE WELCOME OUR
FRENCH HOSTS
GAVE US
WAS
AWESOME!!!
They welcomed us with ceremonies at their war memorials in Calais:
Abbeville:
Beauvais:
and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:
(photo credits: Dave Hayward)
with bunting in Auchy la Montagne
and with a feature article written by Monique Biéri the ‘Courrier Picard ‘ at Poix de Picardie:
THE
CONSTANT SUPPORT
I WAS GIVEN
BY MY FAMILY & FRIENDS
WAS
AWESOME!!!
both before:
and afterwards:
W. L. S.
(WHO SURVIVED FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINE IN 2ND YPRES IN 1915
& IN WHOSE MEMORY
I PEDALLED TO PARIS)
WAS
AWESOME!!!
both in his youth:
and in his old age:
THANK YOU ALL SO, SO MUCH!
Yours feeling absolutely thrilled to have been part of The Royal British Legion’s Pedal2Paris ride, 2014,
Pedal2Paris Day 4!
Pedal2Paris Day 4!
Day 4: Beauvais to Paris (100.8km)
taken from the P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion.
Enjoy the mounting sense of anticipation as you leave Beauvais for the final stretch to Paris. After lunch, you will merge together into one massive peloton for your triumphant entry into Paris.
From the outskirts of the city, Paris police accompany you, sirens blaring, as you wind through city streets to your final destination. Your first view of the Arc de Triomphe as you turn the corner is a magical moment that you will never forget. We are the only bike ride other than the Tour de France that the roads around the Arc are closed fo and cycling around this iconic monument with 300 cyclists is thrilling end to your exhilarating, unforgettable adventure.
But it’s not quite over yet. Before celebrations begin you will, as a group, parade up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the iconic Arc. During a poignant ceremony, cycling becomes secondary for a few minutes as we remember all those in our Armed Forces who are away from home serving their country – some of them in difficult and dangerous surroundings. What better way to “Stand shoulder to shoulder with all who Serve”?.
But the evening is all about celebration as we toast your fantastic achievement! As your bike heads back to London, you travel by coach to your hotel and a final celebratory dinner together, hosted by The Royal British Legion.
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Day 4 – Beauvais to Menucourt
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Menucourt
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Day 4 Menucourt to Paris
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Paris
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and here are the very last hills for our trip:
Yours thrilled to bits to be in Paris!
Pedal2Paris Day 3!
Pedal2Paris Day 3!
Information taken from: P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion.
Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais (106.9km)
Following a rousing send-off from the people of Abbeville, we continue our cycling by heading south through the Somme region.
The Somme is remembered for the terrible battles of the First World War and the beautiful countryside is studded with cemeteries and other poignant reminders of the thousands of men who lost their lives. You will continue through the Oise Region of Picardie and in the afternoon there will be a special reception at the small village of Auchy La Montagne, where each year the villagers give us a wonderful welcome in thanks for their liberation by British Forces in the Second World War.
The day ends with a ceremony at the war memorial in Beauvais followed by a drinks reception at the Fire Station, before coaches take you to your hotels.
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Day 3 – 7.00am breakfast in hotels 7.40am coach from Cap Hornu 8.00am coaches from Ibis and Mecure hotels 8.45am War Memorial ceremonyDepartures at 9.00am, 9.45am and 10.00am |
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Day 3 – Abbeville to Poix de Picardie
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Poix de Picardie
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Day 3 – Poix de Picardie to Auchy la Montagne
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Auchy la Montagne
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Day 3 – Auchy la Montagne to Beauvais
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Beauvais
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Here is the map for the hills:
Yours with only one more day to go until PARIS!!!
Pedal2Paris Day 2!
Pedal2Paris Day 2!
Information taken from: P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion.
Day 2: Calais to Abbeville (120.9km)
A moving ceremony at the Calais War Memorial begins our first day in France. After laying a wreath of Remembrance, set off south-west through the beautiful undulating fields and open countryside of the Pas de Calais region. Cycling is the national sport of France and you’ll receive a warm welcome with locals cheering and waving you on your way.
Rolling road-closures and our fleet of support vehicles make sure you need stop for no-one as you cycle to ancient Desevres for lunch. You’ll then pass through the picturesque villages of Roussent and Crécy-en-Ponthieu. Our final leg of the day will bring you to the stunning town of Abbeville, which lies on the River Somme. Abbeville suffered badly in a German air raid in WW2 but its beautiful Flemish-style architecture is still in evidence.
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Calais Town Hall
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Day 2 – Calais to Desvres
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Desvres
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Day 2 – Desvres to Roussent
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Roussent
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Day 2 – Roussent to Crècy-en-Ponthieu
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Crècy-en-Ponthieu pit stop
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Crècy-en-Ponthieu to Abbeville
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Abbeville
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and this is what the hills will be like:
Yours very pro the ‘plain sailing bits’,
Pedal2Paris Day 1
Pedal2Paris Day 1
Information taken from : P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion..
Pedal to Paris
The Royal British Legion’s signature bike ride. 300 cyclists on a 4-day ride to Paris with a triumphant finish at the Arc de Triomphe. The starting point is Greenwich Park. Please note: Google maps add the distance and DRIVING time to this map. Cycling time is not included.
Day 1: London to Calais (129km)
Leave the capital bright and early from Greenwich Park, accompanied by our motorbike outriders, and head for the coast through some of Kent’s finest scenery.
Leave the capital bright and early from Greenwich Park, accompanied by our motorbike outriders, and head for the coast through some of Kent’s finest scenery.
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Start – Greenwich Park
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Day 1 – Greenwich to Aylesford
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Royal British Legion Village, Alyesford
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Day 1 – Aylesford to Sellindge
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Sellindge Sports and Social Club
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Day 1 – final leg to Dover
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Dover
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Ferry to Calais
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There’s been a lot of talk on here about tough hills, so we asked the super-efficient P2P organisers to highlight key elevation moments that might be challenging. Here’s what they told us…
Yours, not quite believing that I’m really on my way!
The Die is Cast!
The Die is Cast!
I’ve been for my last training ride.
I thought it would be miserable as it was starting to rain, but it turned out to be brilliant fun!
Under Starter’s Orders:
I was just putting on my helmet when Sir Plym appeared driving his lawnmower. He’d been cutting the grass in the churchyard and on the spur of the moment, he challenged me to a race down The Street. The Agent drew up the course with the starting line at the church lych gate and the finish at the Ox and Moose. Lady Egality was in charge of waving the chequered flag, aka her hat.
We set off and I couldn’t believe it – it wasn’t even neck and neck. Maybe I will be fast enough to keep up with everyone else on the Pedal2Paris.
An encouraging email:
I have been so anxious recently about riding slowly – every other cyclist I meet on the road seems to overtake me. However just after my race, I received an email from kind Dan, the Events Administrator for The Royal British Legion.
Please do not worry about your speed, I am sure you will be fine and find plenty of company in one of our speed groups and our ride captains (they’ll be the riders in red) are a fantastic help.
Don’t you think that is encouraging? It never occurred to me that there might be anyone slow in a ‘speed’ group – perhaps I’ll find a cycling buddy!
And…the thought of ride captains who ‘help’ is very reassuring.
A new shirt arrives!
There was also an exciting post this morning. The Royal British Legion has sent me an official shirt to wear!
Isn’t the bit with the supporters cheering us all on, shouting, Bon Courage ! & Allez ! fab ?
The die is cast!
I’ve been for my last training ride. It is now too late for me to get any better at cycling, any fitter or any faster.
The die is cast!
Yours, beginning to get really excited,
I have just found this message on the RBL’s Facebook page:
You’ve all been training so hard and putting so much time into fundraising for the Legion, we wanted to say ‘well done’
– and remind you of the important work the charity will be able to do thanks to your superb efforts. Give yourself a pat on the back!
I should like to pass my pat onto all those who have so kindly and generously sponsored me.
Thank you all so much!
Stop Press:
I’ve just been looking on the website of the Paris hotel where the RBL have kindly booked me a room to stay in on Sunday night should I actually manage to stagger up to the Arc de Triomphe..
Here is a promotional photograph showing a suggested ‘leisure’ activity:
Is someone having a laugh?
Read More
Total Panic!
Total Panic!
Today I found this picture on the Royal British Legion’s Facebook page:
then I found this:
Hi All, just thought I’d introduce myself. I’m one of the Paramedics who will be riding with you to Paris. See you soon. Wiggy
and then this:
All these riders from the Pedal2Paris 2013 ride, seem to be on stretcher tables although the girl in the foreground looks quite jolly which is something…
I am not very brave. I don’t mean to be ungrateful or rude, but I don’t want to see a Paramedic soon, even though Wiggy sounds absolutely charming. Do you think I am over-reacting?
In just 2 weeks, I’ll find out if I’m a feckless grasshopper instead of a worthy ant…
Oh no!
Yours thinking I should find a paper bag to start hyperventilating into,
And now I see that another new picture horror has just been posted onto the Royal British Legion’s Pedal 2 Paris Facebook page:
I think this is called ‘showing off ‘, don’t you? The cyclist is smiling for goodness’ sake.
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It’s Time to Put the Pressure On!
It’s Time to Put the Pressure On!
I’m having some qualms about cycling to Paris. Look what’s been posted on the Royal British Legion’s Facebook page:
Less than three weeks to the starting pistol, how’s the training going?
Are you working on your average speed, long distances, uphill slogging (we’ve heard the approach to Dover is tough) – or are you putting your feet up and preserving your energy?
That word ‘slogging’ sounds dubious; don’t you think the RBL gurus are trying to tell me something? I sense the bit about putting my feet up and preserving my energy is code for LOL.
The comments that other Pedal2Paris riders are leaving on the RBL Facebook page are also giving me pause for thought. Several mention 100 mile + training rides which ‘help to get saddle time’.
Oh no…. And now the Agent has kitted me out so beautifully, I can’t even blame my tools.
Yours feeling quite sick about that approach to Dover,
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Paris is only 4 weeks away!
Paris is only 4 weeks away!
The final countdown for the Poppy Bike ride has begun.
The Royal British Legion has just published this message on its facebook page:
I’m not sure whether to be excited or alarmed.
Do you think this reminder is intended to be encouraging or unnerving?
After months and months of thinking about the ‘Pedal to Paris ride’, suddenly, it’s almost upon me. I don’t know whether I will have trained enough or not. I do hope I will have done so but …I have qualms.
What should my priorities be for my last-minute ‘Pedal to Paris’ preparations?
Given that I’ve only a month left for last-minute tweaks to my training schedule, I googled the web last weekend to find out what the well-prepared cyclist prioritizes. What would you make of these bits of advice?
- …cyclists training for long-distance rides should push themselves to the limits to prepare. You should reach your VO2 max, or maximum oxygen consumption capabilities, during training to evaluate your ability to successfully complete a long bike ride. (Ms. Linda Ray)
Oh no! I can’t say that I’ve exactly pushed myself ‘to the limits’ during my carefree whizzes through the country lanes around Castle Coop – I’ve never even heard of ‘VO2 max’ before and I still walk rather than ride my bike up some of the hills.
- Long distance cycling is more mental than physical…. it’s the mind and the desire to persevere that forces a cyclist onwards. Having a positive attitude keeps a person going forward and over the next hill. (Articlesbase)
…more mental than physical – what???? I’ve less than a month to go and now they tell me that all this time I should have been training my brain to pedal to Paris….
- Get together your gear for your trip. ( Ms. Ava Connor)
Now that sounds much more do-able…. An officially sanctioned shopping trip – yay, I can manage that!
A Trip to London:
No sooner had I read that I should get my gear together for the Pedal to Paris ride (as a priority) than I found myself nipping onto a train to go to a bicycle shop in the City, near Liverpool Street.
I thought a day shopping in London would be fun and it was! I love the people in their amazing clothes, the shop window displays, the buses, the bustle and all the colour & noise. It’s such an exciting city to be in!
Guess which shopper is me!
Nirvana!
Yours having come home completely laden with exciting bags full of things to pedal to Paris with,
There was an old woman who swallowed a fly!
There was an old woman who swallowed a fly!
Guess what I did on my bike ride this afternoon? Yes I did!
It was absolutely horrid. Yuk, yuk, yukyukyukyuk euuugghh….
The rest of my ride nearly made up for the horror of the fly. It felt perfect to be outside in the sunshine bowling along this little lane…
…to be able to admire this view:
and then to chance upon this dear little well in the middle of the road!
When I arrived back at home and told the Agent all about the fly horror, he said I was obviously cycling far too slowly and then bet me £2.00 my tyres were flat.
Flat tyres!
I couldn’t believe it – I’d only just prodded them the other day and they felt absolutely bursting with air to me. However the Agent tested them with the pressure gauge and snorted when he saw the reading. Then he gave me a massive lecture & I gather I am to test them properly with the pressure gauge every time I take the bike out in future. I felt too ashamed of my careless habits to confess that I had no idea how to do this. As soon as he had gone out, I googled for help and found it here at helpful BikeRadar :
(By George Ramelkamp | Wednesday, April 30, 2014)
Keen to try a bit of DIY bike maintenance but worried your ‘can-do’ approach might end up as one big ‘can-D’OH!’? Check out BikeRadar‘s top 10 DIY ‘Don’ts’ to keep you out of trouble.
Psi
Don’t ignore tyre pressure. Riding around with soft tyres can open up a can of worms, full of inconvenience, as well as dragging down your spirit and top speed. Always check your tyres before heading out on a ride; some thinner walled inner tubes can lose between 5 and 20psi a day. Either give them a squeeze by applying firm pressure to the top with your thumb or ping them with a firm flick of the finger. They should produce a drum-like hollow sound and feel very firm when at the correct pressure. Use a good floor pump with an accurate gauge to get the correct inflation, then learn to identify by feel when you’ve reached that correct pressure, for those times you’ll be using your hand pump by the road- or trailside.
Gosh – I had no idea I risked so much, riding around with poorly inflated tyres. Can of Worms …inconvenience …dragging down my spirit and my top speed... What??? Thank you BikeRadar for putting me straight and telling me how to get my PSI sorted.
PSI?
In a trice, I learnt that PSI means ‘Pounds per Square Inch‘ and the correct PSI is written on the tyre. I then applied myself to pinging and producing the required ‘drum-like hollow sound...’ on the Poppy Bike.
In a jiffy, the pressure gauge went from this:
to this:
Yours, feeling pleasingly competent (although £2.00 down),
A Pedal to Paris Training Update – Help!
A Pedal to Paris Training Update – Help!
I sat down yesterday with the calendar. According to ical, I have 7 weeks until my ‘Pedal to Paris’ ride. That is only 35 week days (with 3 left in hand for emergency training). I’m going to have to focus!
I then sat down with the suggested Training Programme given to me by kind Graham from the Royal British Legion back in the new year and studied it. The only possible conclusion to make is that I’m going to have to shape up pretty fast. Just look at this:
Suggested Training Programme:
Please note that a gentle cycle to and from
work each day is not going to be enough.
Oh dear…see how the trainers have gone out of their way to point out rather firmly that gentle cycling just won’t cut it; they must know that I’m all too happy to harbour this kind of fatal delusion.
5-6 months before
You should be aiming to cover a minimum of
60 miles a week. Break it down into manageable
pieces: try two short 15 milers a week and a
30 miler at the weekend with a pit stop.
I’ve sort of done that (more or less). Hurrah!
3-4 months before
You should try to cover about the same distance
during the week i.e. total 30 miles, but aim to
increase the weekend ride to 40-45 miles, with
some pit stops.
Oh no – I haven’t done the weekender 40/ 45 miles at all – not even with lots of pit stops – but I have done the right mileage. Do you think that will count?
1-2 months before
You should now have longer days and more light.
Try to increase your weekday rides to 20 miles
each but keeping your weekend ride to 40-45
miles, as before.
So this is where I should be now. The weekday rides are in hand but I’ve got to start doing the 40-45 mile rides from scratch.
In 7 weeks, I’ve got to be able to cycle:
Day 1: London to Calais (129km)
Day 2: Calais to Abbeville (120.9km)
Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais (106.9km)
Day 4: Beauvais to Paris (100.8km)
Helphelphelphelphelphelphelphelp.
SHAPE UP LIBERTY HEN –
To focus the mind, I have acquired a new top to cycle in:
What do you think of it? I was worried in case people would mistake it for ‘The Yellow Jersey’…
-
[Definition of yellow jersey (n)
Bing Dictionary- yel·low jer·sey
- race leader’s jersey: in the Tour de France, the jersey awarded to the cyclist with the fastest elapsed time at a completed stage of the race]
The Agent however has reassured me, saying there’s absolutely no possibility that anyone would ever make such a mistake. He has said though, that it is very…yellow.
Yours, confidently looking forward to feeling both focused and high viz…
Reading for my Ride to Paris
Reading for my Ride to Paris:
The Agent has been laughing his head off at me because he caught me studying ‘Cycling Weekly’ which I gather is the UK’s best-selling cycling magazine.
Don’t you think this week’s edition looks interesting?
I’ve told him sternly he may laugh if he likes but although it’s true I may not exactly measure up to the prowess of the target readership of ‘Cycling Weekly’, I am considering taking out a subscription. If I’m going to be able to cycle to Paris in September, it’s simply not good enough to cross my fingers and hope for the best. I need to think myself into the role. Perhaps the Agent hasn’t heard of ‘Method Acting‘.
Now that I have:
- a beautiful bike to try to ride to Paris on
- dear little lights which flash fore and aft from my helmet.
- a training schedule as approved by the Poppy Bike Ride organisers
- amazing magic clip-in cycling shoes and pedals
- a username for map-my-ride so I can log my training sorties
- some WD40
- a ticket from Paris to London on Eurostar to return home with….
‘Cycling Weekly’ might prove to be essential reading. I need to learn how to be ‘mentally prepared ‘!
This week’s edition:
This week’s edition has been very informative. I’ve read about techniques for effective uphill training, how to avoid DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness), interval training and the best ways to coping with potholes on the road. There was also an encouraging article called, ‘Starting afresh…you’re never too old..’
I love the sound of ‘Cycling cafés’; they sound fun!
The April weather has meant my recent forays out on the Poppy Bike have been rather damp ones. Cycling in the rain is much better fun than I ever dreamed it could be. Other cyclists have started to nod their heads at me and it feels very convivial.
Yours, luckily without any delayed-onset muscle soreness thanks to my new-found knowledge gleaned from ‘Cycling Weekly’,
A Magic Button makes everything ok!
A Magic Button Saves the Day!
New Pedals for the Poppy Bike
The Agent spent a long time yesterday replacing the ordinary pedals on the Poppy Bike with some new ‘click-in/click-out’ ones for my Pedal Power cycling shoes which he gave me the other day.
I stood by and admired while he and Chick Min wielded specialist spanners. The pedals are much smaller than the ones I’ve always used before:
This afternoon I tried out my new shoes on the bike. The Agent held me up on one side and Chick Min held me up on the other. I definitely recommend clinging on to someone while trying to get the hang of clicking the cleats of new shoes into these pedals.
As soon as they let go of me, I fell off.
Every time I fell off, I remained hopeful that I’d get the knack of the click-in pedals with the next effort. After watching me wobbling round and round getting nowhere, the Agent seemed on the verge of a breakdown and needed to go inside to lie down. Chick Min kept trying to work out what I was doing wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get the hang of the Pedal Power shoes.
But..Look what I found just in time! The Agent needn’t have worried!
A Magic Button to press and make everything ok!
Magic!!
Miracle produire par magie!
Zauberhaft Magie!
Prodigioso!
Here is the magic button link so you can solve all your problems too:
Eureka!
I love this button! I love these Power Pedal shoes!
I”ve just come back from a trial ride out on the road with a kindly supporting escort in case of accidents – Chick Mi rode in front of me and Chick Min behind. I rode in state in the middle and managed to click- in /click-out of the pedals loads of times; it all worked absolutely brilliantly! The shoes and pedals are really fantastic. They make a huge difference going uphill; you can stand up so easily if the gradient is a bit testing. Even just going along on the flat is better as the shoes harness power more efficiently; you can push down while pedalling and also pull up.
Pedal Power shoes and the Make Everything Ok Button – a winning combination! I hope you find this magic button as useful as I have!
Yours, wishing you a very Happy Easter and very Many Happy Returns to my dear Correspondent, Digby D whom I hope will enjoy a very, very happy Birthday on Easter Sunday! ,
P.S. Having discovered that Martha the dog (in a quest to eat up the cat’s food as a small post-prandial snack) has broken my best 10 wine glasses and a jug, I’ve just tried out the ‘make everything ok’ button again to see if it worked under extreme conditions. And it actually managed to make me laugh!
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Pedal Power!
Pedal Power!
16.93 miles were covered today in the push for Pedal to Paris fitness, according to Map My Ride!
It has been another beautiful day and Lady Egality decided to join me on her bike. We cycled along the lanes in tandem which was very companionable.
About half-way round today’s training route, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a Chinook manoeuvre..
We were cycling next to RAF Odiham and watched one of the Base’s Chinooks fly right overhead:
It looked so ungainly and heavy in the air; we were both mesmerised watching it hover in one spot for simply ages.
It must be a pretty extraordinary feeling to pilot such a whopping machine.
We stayed for a long time watching it; it was sobering to think all the training is necessary for the troops to be prepared for service out in Afghanistan.
But then we cycled off and, once away from the RAF Base, felt fancy-free again.
[On April 26th, less than 2 weeks after this post was published, 5 military servicemen – 4 of whom were based at RAF Odiham – were killed out in Afghanistan.
The Basingstoke Gazette report reads:
‘The crash is the first fatal accident involving a UK military helicopter during the conflict in Afghanistan and it is the third biggest loss of life of British troops in a single incident in the country since the conflict began in 2001.
The incident brings the number of British forces killed in the Afghanistan conflict to 453.’
Maj Gen Richard Felton, Commander Joint Helicopter Command paid tribute saying:
“Events like this, whilst mercifully rare, remind us of the risks our personnel face in their work in Afghanistan as we approach the conclusion of the combat mission later this year.”
It is dreadful news.]
An Un-birthday Present!
When the Agent came home tonight, he arrived bearing a parcel for me – how exciting is that!
Guess what was inside, wrapped up in all the tissue paper…..
Pedal Power shoes with cleats attached! Gosh – that’s serious gear! There was even a shoe maintenance manual provided.
Advantages of Click-in Pedals & Bike Shoes
There is no doubt that click-in pedals are safer. They are designed to release quickly and easily. Similar to a ski binding, when you place your shoe onto the pedal and push down, the cleat snaps into place securing it firmly. To unclip, your simply twist your heel away from the bike. Unclipping becomes second nature very quickly… the advantages of a firm cleat and stiff shoes will soon become very apparent. The main advantage however, is that you can achieve a more efficient pedal stroke when using click-in pedals. When you learn how to maximise the full rotation of the pedal stroke by pulling up with your feet, your hill climbing ability will improve, as will your ability to pedal at a higher cadence and you’ll find yourself more efficient in the lower gears. All these reasons will lead to a significant improvement in your endurance but will also reduce wear and tear on your knees, helping you to enjoy your cycling for years to come.
(info from: http://www.triathlonoz.com/
MAGIC SHOES – WOW!
I LOVE the idea of getting ‘a significant improvement’ in my endurance and my hill climbing ability just by putting on a new pair of shoes – what a result – YAY!
It sounds to me as if these product designers are seriously gifted. I need them to concentrate on designing magic shoes for gardening which will give ‘a significant improvement’ in the lack of weeds in the flower beds and some for cooking which will likewise improve my delicious-supper-making ability.
Now I understand why Imelda Marcos ravea about shoes and has all those thousands of pairs!
This magic shoe business is an extremely exciting concept.
I’ve got to change the pedals on my Poppy Bike to these Power Pedals so that my feet in the new cycling shoes, will snap in and out of them.
If I forget I’m wearing shoes with cleats, I will keep falling off. So…I’d better concentrate for a change.
I’m going to have to practise clicking in and out of the pedals quite a lot to get the hang of it. Perhaps I should start off on the lawn – what do you think?
Yours hoping I don’t fall off however,
Eurostar Paris to London!
I’ve just heard…My Eurostar Paris to London return ticket has been booked!
How exciting is that! I absolutely love travelling on Eurostar. Incredibly, it doesn’t feel at all as if there’s an enormous bit sea on your head and you’re whisked under the Channel in no time whatsoever.
This morning, I received this email from kind Graham at the Royal British Legion re the Pedal to Paris bike ride.
Hi Liberty,
We’ve only seen the sun occasionally this year but I hope that hasn’t hindered your training. (Ha ha Graham, what a good joke!)
Trains back from Paris
As Eurostar have now opened their bookings for September I can confirm our train times as 10.13 & 17.13 for the return trip on the 8th. Your ticket is booked for the 17.13 train, if this isn’t the train you meant to book let me know in the next week and we should be able to change this for you.
Best wishes,
Graham
NO.. please don’t change anything! I’m thrilled to bits with everything just how it is and definitely want as much time in Paris as possible.
I’m beginning to think my Poppy Bike ride from London to Paris might actually happen; Graham obviously really thinks I’m going to end up in Paris and will need a train-ride back home!
Yours excitedly,
Read More
Back in the saddle!
Back in the saddle!
I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself. 14.17 miles clocked up for the Pedal to Paris training plan- how about that!
Read MoreArmchair Training for the ‘Pedal to Paris’
Armchair training:
I’ve been ramping up my training for the Pedal to Paris Bike Ride by reading manuals.
It’s very comfortable and cosy reading up about gear changing and clip in shoes while lying on the sofa listening to the rain fall.
But..oh dear.
I’ve had another letter from nice Graham at the Royal British Legion about the London to Paris Bike ride. It’s made me feel very depressed.
He writes, ‘…we do stress that training is really vital. The more hours you invest in the saddle now, the more you will enjoy the ride itself. We always say training pays dividends.You won’t regret it!’
Although the letter says ‘training is vital’, I can’t find any specific reference to armchair training … Gosh! I haven’t invested any hours in the saddle since ages ago when Brown Owl lectured me for cycling in the rain. Do you think Graham has telepathic powers and is worrying that I might be falling behind schedule?
He’s also sent me another training plan.
Graham doesn’t mention anything about the incompatibility of training with gales and flooded roads. He refers to ‘hill training’ rather a lot which sounds ominous to me.
I’ve also noticed that he says the ‘Pedal to Paris’ ride is 450km. What!!!! I thought it was 350km. Now I feel completely exhausted and I’m not even on my Poppy Bike. I need to go and lie down on the sofa.
Yours anxiously,
I Can’t Sit Down!
I can’t sit down.
Thanks to my epic inaugural Poppy bike ride training session yesterday, today I can’t move. I am stiff all over and I have a sore bottom & so can’t sit down.
It’s awful. I’ve had to creep about the house ‘gingerly’ all day.
- I feel all rusted up – just like the Tin Man before Dorothy oiled his joints. That’s the best way I can think of to describe what’s happened to me.
- I now realise I was far too hasty when I rejected the science behind padded cycling shorts. Never again will I dismiss the notion of cycling in what looks exactly like a giant nappy, as ridiculous. From now on, I will remember to do everything I can to ensure the triumph of comfort – even if at the expense of vanity.
‘Supportive’ emails from the Agent
The Agent seems to find the fact that I can’t sit down, funny. He burst out laughing when he saw me try to negotiate getting into the car this morning and then sent me several ‘supportive’ emails throughout the day, featuring products which he thought might “help”.
I don’t think this is tactful of him. It’s not a laughing matter. If any properly ‘supportive’ kind reader would care to point this out to the agent using the comment box below, I should be most grateful.
Supper standing up:
This evening I was forced to accept that, as I can’t sit down, I’d have to eat my supper standing up. It is very hard to be dignified during a crisis when one’s partner in life appears with a broom in one hand and a mop in the other, to which he has ‘helpfully’ attached a knife and fork with rubber bands.
I am having a sense of humour failure. Does this kind of thing ever happen to anyone else? Please comfort me if you can!
Yours stiffly,
London to Paris Poppy Bike Ride:Training Day 1
As you may know, the Royal British Legion are organising a ‘Poppy’ Bike Ride from London to Paris in September. Graham, the Poppy Events Manager, kindly registered me as an entrant last week and today…
I’ve started getting ready to…. cycle to Paris!
I’m pretty excited.
London to Paris … Training Schedule: Day 1
This morning, following careful instructions from the agent, I got on my poppy bike and began my training program.
- I attached 2 little lights to my helmet
- I learnt how to use the gears
- I only got off once to push up a hill
- I cycled through several enormous puddles and it was fun
- I didn’t fall off
- I cycled about 8 miles
- I loved every bit of it.
I’ve got until September to practise the other 242 or so miles so that I can reckon on actually being able to cycle all the way between London and Paris without conking out. As today was only day 1, I decided not to worry about the whole 250 miles and just to concentrate on my first 8. If you have any good tips to help me with my long distance cycle training program, do please comment below and become an official ‘ Lady Liberty Mentor ‘ !
The sun shone, the roads were empty and I couldn’t believe it; there was nothing I’d have rather been doing!
I can’t wait to see Paris!
Yours, excitedly,
On My Poppy Bike (part 4)
OH NO …. WHAT HAVE I GONE AND DONE NOW?
Oh my goodness. Now I understand why the Victorians kept vials of sal volatile close to hand.
This morning I found the long awaited email from Graham announcing:
Dear Lady Liberty,
I’m pleased to announce that our bike ride registrations are now open! These rides are big challenges.
Many thanks for all your support and I look forward to seeing you on one of our bike rides.
Best wishes,
Graham
He included this picture below of riders looking happy. I think he must have realised that I need might reassurance. That was pretty thoughtful of him, don’t you think?
Please press ‘click’ Now!
I was so happy to hear from Graham and to see all the smiling faces of the riders in the photograph I became carried away and blithely followed Graham’s instructions to sign up. In a jiffy, I had pressed the ‘click’ button to register. Then I noticed Graham’s phrase about ‘big challenges’ and thought again. It was too late! There was no button to ‘unclick’ my registration. Can you believe it?
The very next thing I knew, even before I could faint away with horror at what I’d done, Graham was emailing me again to say:
Congratulations! You are now registered for the Pedal to Paris.
You will shortly be receiving a Bike Ride starter pack that will help you get training for the ride but if you have any questions please get in contact.
Best wishes,
Graham
Events Manager
Je suis well and truly dans la soupe maintenant.
Oh dear. It is one thing to imagine doing something and to make jolly sounding New Year Resolutions, but it is quite another to lock oneself into actually doing it. The agent is unmoved by my wobbles and asks why on earth I pressed the ‘click’ button if I don’t want to do the ride. I don’t know why he has to be so logical at times like these. I am in a crisis!
I’d better ‘get on my Poppy bike’, hadn’t I?
Yours nervously,
Read More
On My Poppy Bike (part 3)
Now it is 2014, I need to start my preparations for the London-Paris Poppy Bike Ride.
Just before Christmas, kind Graham from the Royal British Legion, emailed me.
Read MoreFitness training for Paris!
It has been a while since I have updated you about my fitness training schedule for the London – Paris Bike Ride next year which I am hopeful of both entering and completing.
Read MoreMy trip to Paris involves important decisions
I am very busy getting prepared for my epic Poppy Bike ride to Paris in aid of The Royal British Legion. There are many important decisions to be made as to what I shall need in terms of support equipment.
These are some of the items I am deciding about:
Read MoreOn My Poppy Bike (part 2)
It’s pouring with rain today so the village is awash with umbrellas and wellies. The polite car drivers slow down but others just steam through the puddles on the road splashing those of us on foot as if we didn’t matter. We think they are extremely rude.
Back home at Castle Coop, I am now warm and dried out from my wet walk in the rain, with a beautifully hot little tasse de café right by me. I have checked my in-box: (ladylibertyhen@gmail.com) and look what I have found waiting for me there!
Read MoreFeeling a bit meh? Is your standard information diet – The Times, Le Figaro, Die Welt, The Washington Post et al… ok for global news but not quite cutting it on those all – important village updates?
Catching up with ‘The Awesome Hen’
Want to join us but don’t live in Castle Coop? You’re in luck ! Yay!
Our crack Editorial Team at The Awesome Hen:
News Reporter
Lady Liberty Hen
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Lady Lohmann-Brown Party giver Extraordinaire
Lady Egality Maran Sporting Correspondent
Sir Plymouth Rock Author of '101 Ways to Organise Everything & Everyone'
Brown Owl Castle Coop Local Celebrity
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Julia. I'm allowed to be present at editorial meetings so long as I sit at the back & colour in quietly. 
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All the villagers you meet in The Awesome Hen live in the virtual village of Castle Coop and nowhere else. They are entirely their own selves and have no alter egos in either the actual or the virtual world.